Living in the Borderlands

What does it actually mean to live in the borderlands? In a week like this past, I needed to listen and process what was happening more in my body more than usual.

We called this past week a “Border Delegation,” which could be described as an immersively learning experience that highlighted migrant voices and those that are actively involved in the work around the border and migrants. We heard people’s stories, experiences, securities, vulnerabilities, challenges, and hopes. From people in Douglas, AZ, and Agua Prieta, Sonora to those that we coming from Central and South American countries looking for better opportunities.We joined two other groups, The Young Adult Volunteers with the Preysbtrian (YAV) from Albuquerque, NM, and in Tucson. Our week was split up into two sections: we first were in the Douglas/Agua Prieta area for 3 days and then we were in Tucson for 2 days. Our time together was filled with curiosity, questions, and laughter.

Monday

We joined Frontera de Cristo for a cross-planting ceremony. The cross planting was a beautiful way to celebrate the life of someone that had died while crossing the border and celebrate the community around in its presence. The ceremony helped us ground ourselves in the cardinal directions, sky, and earth. We used music, prayer, and our 6 senses (the 6th connecting our mind to our heart) to celebrate the life of Heriberto Gracias Perfecto, who died in 2021 at 28 years. Frontera de Cristo, as well as other groups, goes out and holds these ceremonies to lift the spirit of those that died. We learned about the "red dot map" which indicates where in Arizona there have been remains found from migrants trying to cross. I initially thought this experience would be very heavy, similar to what a funeral service would be like. The ceremony was quite the opposite as we were in a community together celebrating Heriberto's life.

In the afternoon, we went to Café Justo y Mas in Agua Prieta. We learned about their coffee production process and how local farmers are making equitable incomes so they can sustain their livelihoods instead of being forced to cross the border for economic opportunities. It was a place where coffee connects people and people meet new opportunities and brings justice. The Café was a nice space to hang out and get a coffee! It was also a convenient spot for wifi since the church (La Iglesia Presbiteriana Lirio de Los Valles) we were sleeping at was across the street.

In the evening for dinner, we went to C.A.M.E (Centro de Atencion Migrante Exodus) for supper. Learned about the support that C.A.M.E. gives to migrants arriving and anticipating getting to the United States. We had dinner together with migrants that were staying there and heard their individual stories. Jessie and I sat down with two younger boys, 13 and 17, who were coming from Guerrero, Mexico. One was coming with their father who was also at the dinner table. The other boy was coming with his mother and two younger sisters. Humanizing the people were talking to and hearing their stories was an important reminder that these people wouldn't leave their homes and families unless they had to.

We then finished the night as a volunteer group through reflection and singing as a way to process the day and celebrate through music.

Tuesday

We went to CATPSIC (Centro Atencion Psicologia) in the morning, which is a rehabilitation center for those in Sonora. Some from CATPSIC led us on a migration experience to the border wall. People have different ways of describing the wall, but the way I like to describe it is a scar that goes beyond the horizon and has separated what was once one ecosystem, one community.

I wrote a journal piece about my experience that afternoon, and I thought I would share it:

I ran.

Through the mesquite, grasses, and cacti

Hiding -- trying to stay with the rest of the group.

I knew that if I got left behind by the coyote, that would have been the end and I probably would have died.

and there ahead, was the rustic wall

Blocking me from my dreams ahead.

We learned about the signals that migrants need to look for, and how people climb the wall.

People in our group tried it out and it made me laugh as people were able to reach the top within a minute.

It felt like a simulation - that I had the opportunity to experience that. My entire body tensed up when I realized that the border patrol and the Mexican cartel already knew we were there.

So many people die while crossing that border -- losing their belongings, food, water, getting injured, but they have to keep going or they're going to get caught.

Me, I got scratched everywhere. My arms, fingers, knees...I even rolled my ankle and fell. Yet, just a few hours later, I crossed the border with my passport without a thought in the world.

While I was playing this game of running to the border, it was the reality of so many people, and that breaks my heart. 10/25/22

That evening, we attended a weekly vigil that has been occurring over the past 20 years to remember over 300 people that have died in just Coshie county. We honored only a small portion. We were along the main road that leads to the Port of Entry: we stood in solidarity by holding up a cross with the name, age, and date of passing; we would yell their name as loud as we could, and then the rest would shout, "¡presente!" This was a very powerful experience: holding their cross, saying their name, and holding their experience and identity. We walked about a 1/4 mile up to the border entry along the road where people were waiting in traffic trying to enter México. This vigil is something I will never forget. When then had supper with Jack and Linda Knox who are members at Shalom who live in Douglas and talked with them about their experience living in the borderlands.

Wednesday

After two really packed and emotionally heavy days, we spent the morning at Café Justo for breakfast and a bible study with people from Frontera de Cristo. We when then went to DouglaPrieta Trabaja in Agua Prieta for a tour and discussion. It's a Women’s Cooperative that makes a variety of woodworking and sewing products, and the proceeds go directly to the DouglaPrieta Center and are used to pay the workers, cover the cost of materials, and help pay the costs of the center itself. It was another wonderful organization that continues to support people within the community with the goal of economic self-sufficiency.

I wrote another journal piece on our way out:

Prior to leaving, we visited the wall again first on the Mexico side and then on the U.S side. On the Mexico side, we saw murals of hope, and beautiful paintings, along with a sidewalk and other recreational activities along the street. You can look through and see the U.S. and it's a different story. We actually walked across the border to have that experience and then we went to see the U.S. side of the wall.

There are 4 levels of razor wire, a trench, and then a secondary wall with more razor wire. There was empty space and border patrol trucks were watching. Who were they defending? You could see for miles on either side the long scar that the wall has become into the desert. We talked about the history and how the wall evolved from a fence to a more decorative wall, to a tall wall, to an EVEN taller wall with narrow bollards, then adding the razor write, then more, and more, and more. Allison, one of the YAV coordinators, made a comment that as U.S citizens we need to own the wall and we took some time to feel and get used to it; all its pointy edges and cold metal. To the east, I saw a shirt hanging from afar, so I walked down to look to see. There it was hanging about 20 feet up. You could see the razor wire was bent...someone fell into the layers of razor wire and probably got caught. My gut was tight. We've militarized our land, our border, our natural landscapes...all to keep people out? But weren't we called as Christains to destroy the barrier and be one humanity?

For context: Ephesians 2: 11-22 was a passage we continued to reflect on during the week.

Thursday

Once we were back in Tucson, we still had two days of programming and engage in topics around migration and the borderlands. We did a NAFTA skit in the morning which was a reinactment that helped us learn about how NAFTA impacted Mexico which pushed many migrants to the U.S. In the afternoon we heard from Alvaro Enciso, who crafts crosses to commemorate where dreams die, or "devotion to a stranger who should of been a neighbor." We then heard from Rocio who is a member at Shalom and her experience of being in a detention center for over 2 years and her involvement with the Casa Mariposa Visitation Program. We then wrote holiday cards that would eventually be given to detainees over the holiday season. For this day, we continued to hear story after story and my body was filled with hope with the work people are doing around immigration justice.

Friday

It was another filled day, but sadly this was our last day. We started with a discussion all morning. It sort of felt liked a college lesson with me taking diligent notes, but this gave us time to start piecing together all of our questions and what we experienced throughout the week.

my notes from our discussion

In the afternoon, we heard a presentation from the Sierra Club about how the wall has impacted the land and ecosystems. Throughout the presentation is was evident that a wall wasn't designed to survive in the dest, as a monsoon could completely wipe out the foundation and cause section of the wall to collapse. The wall is also blocking passage for animals and waterways are being blocked because of build up of debris. It's pretty ironic that the wall is not stoping humans from crossing, but instead is preventing animals and water from crossing. This presentation was thought provoking because it causes us to really think what the wall is actually doing/not doing.

We finished our time together by final reflections and worship together. We, the young adult volunteers, then celebrated with dinner and playing games together.

Wow, it was definitely a week. The whole weekend has been recouperating and adjusting back to the reality of work and getting back on our house routine. As a way to wrap up this post, here's some photos from our weekend and our newest purchase (a map) and our newest find along side the road (a couch).